The bugs are back in town.....nom, nom, nom

Saturday June 15th - 1500 points - Tyranids (Wiggy) vs Space Wolves (Dave)

So here goes a return to some updates of the 'Tale of Few' band of hobbyists. This battle report features my 'Nid army that was formed during the tale and by good friend Dave from http://hammertime40k.wordpress.com/ blog, who I have not fought since school over 15 years ago.......


The Armies

Space Wolves 
Rune Priest - Jaws, Fury of fenris
Rune Priest - Jaws, Living lightning
3 Thunderwolves - Thunder hammer, 3 storm shields
10 Grey Hunters - Wolf standard, 2 Plasma Guns
10 Grey Hunters - Wolf standard, 2 Plasma Guns
10 Grey Hunters - Wolf standard, 2 Melta Guns
6 Long Fangs - Missile, 2 Las Cannons
Vindicator
Vindicator
Dreadnought - Assault Cannon


Tyranids
Tyranid Prime - Pair Boneswords, Scything Talons, Toxin Sacs
4 Tyranid Warriors - Scything Talons, Rending Claws, toxin sacs
10 Termagants
10 Termagants
Tervigon - catalyst, toxin sacs, scything talons
5 Raveners - Rending claws, death spitters
4 Shrikes - Boneswords, Lashwhips, toxin sacs
15 Gargoyles - Adrenal glands
Trygon - Toxin Sacs
8 Ymargl Genestealers

Mission and Deployment

We rolled up the 'Purge the Alien' Scenario and 'Hammer and Anvil' deployment, with the wolves choosing their table end and the Tyranids getting to deploy first. Warlord traits rolled up allowed the Tyranids a bonus to shooting near objectives (useless) and the Wolves got move through cover within 12" (never used).

You can see the forces set up below. From my point I wanted to throw the Trygon, Tervigon with the Gargoyles and Shrikes. I thought that the two big creatures and Gargoyle swarm might distract enough firepower to get the Shrikes in amongst the troops where I hoped they would blend lots. The slower elements would advance into the centre to get into assualt late game or stop a Space Wolf swing round. The Raveners were put out wide to try and spread the Wolves and I placed the Ymarglys dormant in the small building far back as it would match the Ravener advance and thought that there was a chance the Long Fangs would deploy there. 
The Space Wolves deployed as shown, chatting with Dave after he mentioned that he wanted a good field of fire for the Long Fangs and the Vindicators opposite the biggest threat. This was the first time he had ever fought 'Nids so other than general knowledge it was a bit of a leap into the unknown.
No night fight and initiative not stolen.

Turn 1

The Tyranid Swarm advanced in a straight forward manner. The Tervigon cast Catalyst on the Gargoyles to help against Bolters and the Raveners attempted to use the small ruin to cover them from Long Fangs. Fleet moves brought everything up quite well and as covered as could be, so it was time to let the Wolves unleash.

There was little movement within their lines with one plasma squad and Rune priest stepping up into bolt range of Gargoyles and the Dreadnought stepping a little forward. After two direct hit Vindicators, Dread and the Grey Hunter squad (with only 3 feel no pain rolls allowed due to instant death) there was a single Gargoyle left. The long fangs split to attempt to finish him but missed with the missile and the rest took 2 wounds from the Tervigon.
At the end of the turn the battlefield looked like this

Turn One Victory Points - 0-0

Turn 2

No Ymargls meant that I couldn't pin the Wolves right flank so I decided the Raveners would risk some return fire and advanced to shoot the Long Fangs. The lone Gargoyle sat in front of the Tervigon by the hill to force a shot or generate cover with catalyst going to the Shrikes this turn. They jumped forward towards the Grey Hunter/Vindicator line with the Trygon slithering up to the right and everything else slowly advancing. The Raveners opened up killing a las cannon and 2 missile launchers, with the Long Fangs holding firm on morale. Fleet and Run moves closed the distance for next turn and the Shrikes made combat losing a couple of wounds. I mistakenly put one on a vindicator hoping to glance it which i did before I remembered that meant only a single hull point lost! The other 3 managed to kill 8 Grey Hunters as a wound was caused from the Rune Priest but Shadow in the Warp prevented instant death. The other handful of attacks were stopped by armour and feel no pain. The Wolves lost but couldn't be run down so piled in. 

In response to the 'Nid making combat the Warlord and Grey Hunter squad two advanced to pile into the shrikes but through lash whips and low charge couldn't bring a huge amount to bare. The vindicators shot at the Tervigon which missed and the Raveners which killed all but one who was promptly killed by the Grey  Hunter squad sitting the Long Fangs.....First Blood. The Long Fangs themselves were able to take another wound from the Tervigon.
In the assault phase the initiative 4 attacks of the Space Wolves killed a single Shrike  and a couple more wounds who then killed 4 of the charging unit, the first Rune Priest and other survivors to win the combat by one. The Warlord held but everyone was now locked with 3 lash whip annoying Shrikes.

 Turn Two Victory Points - 2-2 (first blood)

Turn 3

The Ymargls appeared and set off against the Grey Hunters in the open to avoid the need for assualt Grenades and reasoning that there were not too many Long Fangs left and it was further from the Thunder Wolves. (not having fought against them before I wasn't sure how good they might be but didn't want to find out too quick). The Warriors and 'gants advanced past the half way point but the guys were too far from any thing other than Dreadnought and Vindicator that they were unlikely to have a big impact. The Trygon stepped close to the nearest Vindicator and then stepped in smashing it to pieces killing a Grey Hunter in the explosion. The Shrikes killed all but the Rune Priest and 2 Grey Hunters and lost one more Shrike in return as the combat continued. The Ymargls morphed to gain an extra attack and in a flurry of lots of lovely green dice, rended 6 Grey Hunters and killed one more losing only one in return. The final 3 didn't win the roll off and so kept the Ymagrls locked.

As the deaths had certainly started to happen the Wolves stepped into action to start to attempt to hold the line. The Thunder Wolves and Dread headed for the Trygon, while the surviving vindicator shelled the Warriors and killed a couple. The Long Fangs  reduced the Tervigon to 2 wounds past some feel no pain and then combat was rapidly upon us. The Ymargls killed two Grey hunters but the remaining one pinned them in place again. The Warlord killed a Shrike after he had lost a wound and remaining Grey Hunters leaving a nice dramatic one one one clash. In the battle of the heavy weights the Thunder Wolves rended twice and caused another wound on the Trygon before the Dreadnought lived up to the stories and hit with all 3 attacks and wounded to kill the Trygon in a single assault phase!! As it struck simultaneously the Dreadnought was ripped to pieces but I had learned quickly that the Thunder Wolves were mean.

Turn Three Victory Points - 6 (Line) -3 (First)

Turn 4

The battlefield was spreading into local combats with a greatly reduced number of models and far more raid turns. The Warriors and Prime advanced to bait the Thunder Wolves (although this might not be a great idea) and the Tervigon stepped towards the Vindicator. I later thought I should've spawned some 'bubble wrap' 'gants but you forget that little guys are stills sometimes worth it in kill point games. The last Gargoyle was no longer needed for distraction so flew behind a building. In the assault phase the Tervigon didn't get the 10" it needed to assault so I had to settle for killing the last Grey Hunter with Ymargls and the Warlord with the last Shrike.

In return for this The Thunder Wolves decided that getting a second Monstrous kill would be good for the sagas and so jumped on the Tervigon and later made short work of the initiative 1 brood mother. The Vindicator and Long Fangs killed only 3 Ymargls due to a poor scatter and that was all the remaining shooting.

Turn Four Victory Points - 9 (slay+line) -4 (First)

Turn 5

The Ymargls predictably butchered the Long Fangs and the last Shrike attempted to take some hull points from the Vindicator but failed.

In return the Vindicator killed all the remaining Warriors with the Prime and the Thunder Wolves closed in on the Shrike and killed him losing one in return.

Turn Five Victory Points - 10 (slay+line) -6 (first)

Turn 6 and Turn 7

The Ymargls failed to charge the Vindictor and were then charged by the Thunderwolves and killed with minimal fuss. There was some positioning but everything else was too far away to cause damage and the game was done

Final Victory Points - 9 (slay) -7 (first)

So in the end it was a victory for the bugs in a battle that got a little too far away from the Wolves before they fought back. It was certainly good to play someone I've not played in ages and to pick up dice and play around again in general. Learning points: -

• Thunderwolves are fantastic in combat with average armour or monstrous creatures. Being held back as they were and against so little shooting they killed 600 points with dreadnought help for their 285 and were untouchable at the end.
• In a game without objectives playing lengthways I need to experiment with the termagants. I held them back to avoid giving up an easy 2 kill points and I think this was right but not certain. The Raveners sacrifice did draw some Wolves away from a single big castle but 4 failed cover saves from the Vindicator hurt. I think running into a wall of guns is always gonna hurt but still need to work on movement.
• The Shrikes in this game rolled well and killed 20 Grey Hunters, 2 Rune Priests and a Thunder Wolf. Well worth it.
• The Trygon died for the first time to a Dreadnought that actually lived up to reputation, a fitting mutual death.

Thanks again for the game Dave. Will look out for your version on your blog and maybe some comments here. 

So now it ends.....

The six months of the Tale have now concluded and the results are in...the winner is "The Hobby!" Everyone ended up with more stuff built and painted and played some games. Or I haven't got round to looking at the table yet...one of the two.

So the rest of this will focus on my progress over the half year, what I have learned and what is next for the bugs.

So this was the battlefield for our last gaming weekend which saw the Black Consuls (pictured above) do battle with Chaos Daemons, in which we learned that Daemons can be a steamroller if played right against marines. We later learned that when the Daemons fight against my Tyranids some over aggressive deployment plus a lack of reserves in turn 2 can mean that a Daemon army is one model away from being dead and forfeiting at the end of turn 2. A good weekend of dice rolling was had.

So this is what I got painted of Hive Fleet Leviathan in 6 months. Only the Tyranid Prime and 10 Termagants are fully done but everything else has a good turn of colour that is most of the waay there. In addition there are 8 ymargls and 6 Shrikes that are waiting on conversion kits in order to be started.
Throughout this time I also painted my Imperial Fist Librarian, a Dakka Jet and 2 squads of Orks so overall I'm happy.

From an army building standpoint I went in want to use a new army and having had a few games with the selection I have there are a few key points I have learned.

• Practice with deployment and movement is going to be vital - As the army intentionally lacks guns I find that I am taking horrific casualties on the way to the fight. Time will tell if I need to use the army better to reach there with less loses or if adding in a bit more ranged bite is needed.
• Tyranid are stronger the more they outnumber the other guy - I like having Warriors and Raveners but I am learning that having more bodies seems to serve me very well and having 400 points in 2 units that can be battle/demolisher cannoned in a flash is a concern.
• Use the little guys as blockers - Termagants will rarely if ever kill anything. What they can do is get in the way and hold things up and this is a skill that I need to refine, especially as a way to combat flyers.

So the force will continue to grow with the additions mentioned above, a second batch of gargoyles and a nice big Trygon to round out 1500. I have had initial thoughts for the next 1000 points for July but I will wait to decide if this force will keep growing.

Thanks to all the fellow people on the Tale.....Happy hobby for 2013.

One final bug attack

So it will be all over after this month! Except everyone knows that a hobby project is never actually finished....it just waits for the next shiny toy to come along to re-energise it.

So this is the force as it it looks at the moment (around about 1000 points) This month there will be 6 Shrikes and some Ymargls added to the swarm that will make it closer to 1300 and then a Trygon and a few more Gargoyles will round out the first 1500.

I have learned to get the basecoating and first wash done quickly, regardless of the model but anything from Warrior size and up then takes a while to layer back on the smooth skin colours. The Carapace I've enjoyed doing and hope to get a fair few more done this month so the overall impact is there but I'm also pleased that I made a point of a lot of the basing getting done early as I'm rubbish at doing that last.

This week should see the swarm back in action against the Black Consul marines and before the month is out if I'm lucky they will get a munch on some Tau and some.....well I have no idea what my brother will have but there will be something.

I'll finish this group with some pretty pictures from the resident good photographer alongside some nice scenery (cheers bro-ski)

Xmas time is a time for...bugs

Hello everyone and I hope the holiday season has brought you lots of joy, food and time to have some hobby fun.

Now I'm typing this with slightly black hands as I've been undercoating the bigger of my 2 new additions to the Hive Fleet Tiamat.

So this post is a bit of an update overall but also to say I'm really enjoying working on this army and hope that now it has grown to around the 1000 point size it will have the chance to try out against some new forces in the next year.

So here's the finished Tyranid Prime. I'm happy with the paint job even if the Boneswords aren't quite as I hoped. Very happy with the conversion and so am certain she will die in the first game that she takes to the table.

The two new additions for xmas to the bugs are the little flying nuisance that are gargoyles (thank you lovely wife). The first 10 will allow me to just get used to positioning them and then when I double their broods size and add in some Shrikes I expect them to pack a bit more punch.

The second pic is of one of the most used Tyranid models since the latest codex landed. Tervigons are simply great for their points, good resilience  force multiplier (quite literally  and no push over in combat....oh and scoring. Very much looking forward to unleashing in the new year.

Nom. Nom. Nom

Big Mumma's swords

So this month I set myself the aim of converting and painting up the HQ choice for my force. So here she is before undercoating.

I hope to get another 3 Warriors done too so that I will have the big unit of Prime plus 6 Warriors to both be scoring and spearhead any assaults on the tougher enemy units.

Hive Fleet Tiamat progress

The bugs have been a very enjoyable project from so many aspects: -

• New citadel paints - given me  good reason to use them and I do like the colours I've used and how well the paints actually work. Have been able to look at the textures for bases, glazes and the medium and I think actually in a way the overhaul was long overdue. Great change but I still have no idea on the colour names.
• 5th vs 6th editon - So far in 6th my Tyranids have performed very well and eaten everything they have fought but they haven't fought much. Having played against H and his bugs at the doubles it was painful to see what concentrated firepower could do against the bugs. I like 6th from a non competitive stand and more and more of my gaming I think will happen outside of tournaments and pick up 'fair' games and so from this point I expect to enjoy the bugs
• army balance - For those times when I do want the bugs to go to battle and munch all in front of them I think I have now found that I can't have the units I want and still expect to be cohesive so I will now have 2 lists to work towards using these six units: -

Tyranid warriors and Termgants and Tervigons
Genestealers and Hormagaunts and Carnifexs

I feel that these parts work in groupings, I know I am enjoying Raveners and will get round to getting the Gargoyles that I also want as part of my basic force but I feel at the moment that the units listed above are an either/or set up to go with my force.

Snake bugs

Bounding bugs and leader bugs

Bugs to go splat

So I hope to get  a bit more painted as I go, get my Tyranid Prime done for Xmas and into 2013 maybe start some big bugs.

Then there is the return trip to Warhammer World and my revenge against the Gutbuster to be had!

Best painted army...

Apparently my husband won the best painted army at a doubles tournament last weekend...but he does not a certificate nor a trophy...so it could all be lies... I believe him though.

Here are some pics I took earlier today.

- Enza -

The bugs are coming......

....but I've been sidetracked.

As every good hobbyist knows there is never enough time to fit in all the hobby stuff that you 'want' to do. Thats partly because you look at many different options that you know will not happen, because you like looking at options. For example this week gone I have looked at: -

• The new Chaos Codex and written lists based around a normal Black Legion lord, Abaddon, Tzeentch sorcerer and Slaanesh Dark Apostle and thats just the HQ options.
• Space Marines are appearing again as I have a doubles tournament on the 17th and the Imperial fists are coming out to play
• Space Wolves have been looked at as a nostalgia trip for my first ever army and 'cause an old friend is back into the hobby with Space Wolves
• Tyranids......because I'm supposed to be looking at these guys!

So in October I made a bit of progress with painting the bugs (but need to step it up) and I have painted the one model I need for the doubles, my Imperial Fist Librarian, whom I plan having with Sternguard. Not sure yet which Psychic list to go with at all though.

I managed to get in a decent 900 point game with the bugs form Hive Fleet Tiamat last month and I have taken away the following lessons.

• Having 6 troops choices in 900 points is good for objectives if you can pin your opponent back and claim board control.
• Board control is vital for a Tyranid army and that can be achieved with hordes of little guys.
• Some firepower is a prudent choice for Tyranids as just claws will struggle if your opponent can maneuver.
• Unless you have monstrous creatures you really are quite squishy to basic boltguns and sterguard.

So  into month 4 and I'm thinking the following:

1. The tale is due to run for 6 months and with half of the time gone, not too many bugs are done but I'm happy with those that are.
2. For November its finish the ones I have and move onto getting all 6 Raveners done too. December will be busier so I will spend that time focusing on converting a Tyranid Prime.

Month Two

So the month of September is now over and so here is how everyone has got on against the categories set out

	Played a game	Built months purchases	Painted unit 1	Painted unit 2	Base all purchases
Philip	X
Wiggy	X	X	X		X
Oddsock Keith
Enza	X	X	X	X	x

So after this it means the scores from the fist month are as follows

Philip - 1 Point                2 Total

Wiggy - 4 Points             7 Total

Oddsock Keith - 0 Point   1 Total

Enza - 5 Points (Enza is amended to 4 points for last month on the basis of as was said, not getting the basing done last month)    9 Total

Well done to Enza for max points, well done to everyone for getting on the board and here's to more hobby.

Battle report Two - 3 players

Wednesday September 12th - 600 points - Tyranids (Wiggy) vs Black Consuls (SM - Phil) and Tau (D)

So here goes with the another battle report from the 'Tale of a Few.' We had decided to play the 'Battle Recon' mission from near the end of the main rulebook again as it is a nice straight forward mission for the smaller points value. I'm writing this way too long after the game so apologies for the lack of detail

The table was set up as shown




The Army

Black Consul - Codex Space Marines
Pedro Kantor
5 Sternguard - 2 combi-melta
10 Tactical Marines - Power sword, Flamer, Missile Launcher (one squad)

Tau
Commander - Plasma, cyclic and multi tracker
10 Fire warriors

Tyranids
Tyranid Prime - Pair Boneswords, Scything Talons, Toxin Sacs
3 Tyranid Warriors - Scything Talons, Rending Claws
10 Termagants
10 Termagants
13 Hormagaunts - Toxin Sacs
6 Raveners - Rending claws

The armies were set up as shown. The Marine/Tau alliance set up first, the Tyranids then positioned as best they could with the Raveners in reserve as I wanted to threaten hi back field quickly. The Warlord traits rolled up gave the alliance something that wasn't used (can't think it) where as I rolled up conquer of cities which gave me stealth in ruins and move through cover in ruins too....very good for this game.

Turn 1
Tactical squad advanced towards wood, Kantor to the building and the Commander followed them. Fire Warriors hung back near the hill and as nothing was in range everything ran forwards a bit.
The Tyranid turn was equally easy as they all advanced forward towards the building nearest to them apart from a Gaunt group going upwards.

 Nothing - VP 0-0

Turn 2
Marines advance into the woods and roll it up as a 3+ cover save. Kantor and the Commander hug the building as they advance. The tactical squad open fire on the Warriors but cover saves keep them from being wounded. The Fire Warriors open up on the 'gaunts nearest them but again cover stops them. Tired of all these cover saves the Sternguard make use of the dragon fire shells to kill 3 Hormagaunts.
The unpainted Termagaunts hold the objective in the building nearest to them and the rest of the force advances, no Raveners show up.

Two objectives each- VP 4-4

Turn 3
Tactical advance to the front edge of the wood. Kantor holds ground to call down his orbital strike causing 2 wounds on the Warriors in the ruins, followed by 2 more wounds from the Tau commander. Fire Warriors open up on the Hormagaunts and focus on those in the open managing to kill 7 of them.
The Raveners appear and advance into the ruins near Kantor with the Hormagaunts jumping up behind them. The rest of the force advances.
Raveners kill 3 stergaurd through shooting but the Tyranid Warriors fail a huge 10 inch charge.

One objective alliance, Two objectives Tyranids- VP 2-4

Turn 4
Fire Warriors advance to try and bring themselves into rapid fire range, Sternguard only manage to stumble an inch towards the Raveners. The tactical squad open up on the Tyranid Warriors who go to ground and only suffer one wound (I've since found out that as Synapse creatures Warriors are fearless and therefore can't go to ground) The Fire warriors concentrate on the Raveners inflicting 4 wounds another wound is added from the commander but but rolls mean that no more are caused by the sternguard who were hoping to charge.
Raveners advance with the Hormagaunts, with the termagants closing range too. The Raveners leap onto the sternguard and kill the 2 remaining guys but loose 2 of their number to a wounded Kantor and are unfortunately out of synapse range so flee. The few hormagaunts charge the Fire Warriors and lose a couple on the way in to overwatch but win a much closer than expected combat and run down the survivors.

One objective alliance, Two objectives Tyranids- VP 2-4


The game stopped at this point due to time.